The identification of psychological and social processes involved in Psychogenic Voice Disorder.

The research aimed to identify the psychological and social processes involved in Psychogenic Voice Disorder (PVD). Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were utilised in this study. The quantitative part of the study consisted of a questionnaire which sought to assess biographical details of this population and establish the patient's perception of their voice problem. The qualitative part of the study consisted of in-depth interviewing based on the principles of grounded theory and aimed to identify the processes involved in PVD. The patients who took part were from a Voice Clinic at a London teaching hospital. The results support previous research which concluded that PVD is a predominantly female disorder. The results indicate that PVD is caused and maintained by a complex interaction of psychological and social processes. The main processes in this interaction were found to be, Conflict over Speaking Out (CSO), background influences, powerlessness, fear of consequences, musculoskeletal tension, burden of responsibility and avoidance. In the discussion it is suggested that from the results and in the consideration of the history of PVD, the patient's perceived social position in society may be the concept that links the identified processes involved in the causation and maintenance of PVD. The thesis concludes by briefly considering some areas of future research